Theatrical apparatus



G. N. BROWN.

THEATRICAL APPARATUS.

1,364,699- APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15, I920. Patented Jan. 4

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G. N. BROWN. THEKTRICAL APPARATUS. APPLLCATION FILED JUNE 15, I920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

PATENT UFFlQE.

GEORGE I T. BBOJVN, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK.

THEATRIGAL APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

Application filed June 15, 1920. Serial No. 389,064..

T all u; 710m it may concern Be it known that T, Gnonon N BROWN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Auburn, in the county of Cayuga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Theatrical Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a theatrical apparatus, and more particularly to a device in which the performer operates the same by walking thereon.

The apparatus comprises, broadly, a treadmill and an indicator, which indicator is operatively connected to the treadmill in such a manner as to disclose the distance traveled by the performer.

More specifically, my invention embodies a treadmill constructed in a manner particularly designed and arranged for use in a portable machine. The indicator is designed to record in laps the distance traveled by the performer, and embodies a dial and an indicating hand, and a second dial which successively records the laps.

My invention, while described and disclosed as a theatrical apparatus, is not necessarily limited to such use, inasmuch as the same is equally adapted for use as an exeroising machine and has heretofore been successfully used as such. The details of construction are such that the apparatus may be made strong and durable, and at the same time of such proportions of weight as to allow the same to be easily transported.

Various objects will appear more fully hereinafter in the specification and the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, with certain parts in section;

Fig. 4; is a transverse section taken on line l4r of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig- 6 is a vertical section of the record ing means;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, detail perspective view of the treadmill platform; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, detail view of a portion of the frame structure.

In the drawings, the letter A indicates the recorder, and B a part hereinafter referred to as the treadmill.

The treadmill B comprises a rectangular frame formed of fourangle irons 9, constituting the sides thereof, vertically disposed corner standards 10, and transverse braces at the lower ends thereof, as indicated at 11. Suitable braces 12 are provided which, with the members 9, and 11, cooperate to form a light, portable, but substantial, frame upon which the working parts are supported.

At either end of the frame and supported adjacent the upper edges thereof are two shafts 13, carrying wheels 13, said shafts being suitably journaled, as at 14, in supports 15. Two pairs of rails 16 extend longitudinally of the frame. These two pairs of rails are spaced apart for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully set forth, and are adapted to receive between them the upper ends of the supports 15. This struc ture is clearly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 8. A bolt 17, passing through the uprights 10 at either side thereof, extends through the pair of rails 16 and the support and is secured in place by a nut 18. A sleeve 19, surrounding the bolt 17 and disposed between the vertical support 10 and one of the rails 16, properly spaces these rails and the support 15 If desired, an additional sup porting member in the form of a bracket 20 may be inserted. It is obvious that by providing this type of a support the two sets of rails may be rigidly secured at both ends of the machine, and at the same time provide a support for the members in which the shafts 13 are supported.

In order to support the treadmill platform throughout the travel of the upper portion of its path, I provide a multiplicity of rollers 21, positioned between the rails 16 and journaled in the depending sides thereof. This structure is clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. By reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that there are two sets of rollers 21 disposed adjacent the two longitudinal sides of the frame, and also, that there are two wheels 13 positioned at the ends of the frame. In this manner the treadmill platform may be suitably supported upon the frame to enable the same to be operated over these wheels in a manner'to be more fully hereinafter set forth.

The treadmill platform consists of a multiplicity of sections 2'2, preferably of wood, but the same may be made of any other suitable material, These sections are joined to gether in a continuous belt-like structure, by means of straps 23 secured to the underside thereof in any suitable manner. Upon the upper side of this platform and adjacent the edge thereof I provide a series of locking blocks 2%, in staggered relation with respect to one another, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 7. Each section 22 of this beltlike structure has one of these locking blocks rigidly secured thereto, and so positioned that the ends of the locking block extend to points approximately midway of the next section in such a manner that, despite the flexibility of the straps 23, the platform will present a substantially solid support. It is obvious that downward pressure eX- erted upon one of the sections 22 will be borne equally by the two adjoining sections, by reason of the overlapping of the locking blocks 2%. By reason of this structure, the performer is provided with a substantial platform upon which to stand, and at the same time, a belt-like structure is produced which will properly pass about the end wheels 13.

Suitably supported by the longitudinal frame of the treadmill and adjacent one edge thereof is a vertical post 25. This may be supported adjacent the treadmill structure in any suitable manner, and I have here shown the same as being spaced from the frame by sleeves 26, through which passes a bolt 27, a thumb-screw 28 being provided for securing the bolt in place. Supported upon the upper end of this post is a dial 29, which forms a part of the recorder A. The front surface of this dial is provided with suitable characters to in dicate one unit of distance which the treadmill has traveled, and in this instance indicates one lap, with fractions thereof. Extending through the dial centrally thereof is a stub shaft 30, and keyed upon this shaft and at the rear side of the dial is a wheel 31, grooved on its periphery to receive an. operating belt 32. The stub shaft 30 extends through the dial to the front face thereof and carries the indicating hand 32'. This structure is most clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6. By further reference to these figures it will be seen that I provide a second disk or rotatable member 33, pivoted to the dial 299, as at 34, and on the rear face thereof. This disk 33 carries a set of radially disposed pins 35 projecting rearwardly therefrom. The dial 29 is provided with an opening 36, through which a set of indicating numerals 37, provided upon the disk 33, are visible. The wheel 31 carries an operating dog 38, which is so positioned with respect to the set of radial pins 35 that, as the wheel, and consequently the operating dog 33, travels in a direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2, the same will contact on each revolution with one of the pins 35 and thereby move the disk 33 one step in the direction indicated by the arrow. In this manner, when the wheel has rotated once to indicate that the treadmill has traveled one lap, the disk 33 carrying the numerals will be made to move one step, and thereby indicate through the opening 36 the number of laps traveled by the treadmill. The disk 33 may be frictionally held in place, to prevent accidental displacement, by clips 39.

In order to operatively connect the recorder to the treadmill, I extend one of the shafts 13 to a point outside the frame, and place thereon a pinion 40, which is adapted to mesh with a gear 41 journaled on a shaft 12, which shaft is supported between the upright 10 of the frame and the post Unon this shaft 42 I place a pulley 43. A second pulley 1a, ournaled upon the post 25 at a point somewhat above the pulley s 3, provides additional support for the. belt It is obvious from the foregoing that the belt 32 travels over the pulleys L3 and as, and also about the grooved wheel 31, and thereby operates the appurtenant parts of the recorder.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, a suitable curtain 4:5 may be hung from the front of the frame to hide the operating parts of the device, and to add materially to the decorative features of the device when used as a theatrical apparatus.

The operation of the structure thus far described is obvious. As shown in Fig. 1, the performer mounts the machine, standing upon the movable treadmill platform. In use, it is customary to provide some means for retaining the performer upon the apparatus, and in Fig. 1 I have shown this apparatus in the form of a belt 46 passing around the waist of the performer and having attached thereto a supporting wire 17, which will be attached to some stationary object. Vith the performer thusly positioned, the device will be worked by the usual operation of walking, which will tend to move the treadmill platform rearwardly over the supporting rollers, and by reason of the operative connection between the same and the recording mechanism, the distance traveled by the movable platform will be disclosed upon the dial.

I have found that, aside from being entertaining when used as a theatrical apparatus, my invention is particularly useful as an exercising machine, inasmuch as the operator may simulate walking in the limited space necessary for my machine.

I wish to lay particular stress upon the structural features of my apparatus, inasmuch as I have found that a device constructed in accordance with my invention provides one in which the proper strength and rigidity is present, and at the same time is of a weight capable of being easily transported.

Various changes and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and I particularly reserve this right.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a rectangular frame composed of angle irons, two rows of wheels mounted at the top side of said frame adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof, additional supporting wheels positioned at either end of said frame, a platform supported upon said wheels, said platform comprising a multiplicity of sections, flexible means connecting these sections, and locking blocks secured to said sections, said platform being rotatable about said wheels and presenting on its upper side a substantially solid support, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a rectangular frame composed of angle irons, two pairs of wheel-supporting rails positioned at the upper side of said frame, a multiplicity of wheels journaled between each pair of rails, a main wheel positioned at each end of the frame and having their upper edges in alinement with the edges of the first-mentioned wheels, a beltlike platform supported upon said wheels and adapted to travel about the same, said platform being formedwith a multiplicity of sections so arranged as to present a substantially solid support at its upper side, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus of the class set forth, a rectangular frame, comprising longitudinal side bars formed of angle irons, vertically disposed angle irons rigidly secured to said side members and forming the corners of said frame, two pairs of wheel-supporting rails positioned adjacent the upper side of said frame, said rails being formed of angle bars, a multiplicity of wheels carried by said wheel-supporting rails and journaled in the depending sides thereof, additional Wheels positioned at each end of the frame, supports for said last-mentioned wheels, said supports being positioned between the pairs of rails adjacent the ends thereof, a bolt projecting from the side of the rectangular frame and through the depending side of each pair of rails and through said wheel support to retain the same in position with respect to the rectangular frame, and a flexible platform mounted upon said wheels, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a rectangular frame composed of angle irons, two pairs of wheel-supporting rails positioned atthe upper side of said frame, a multiplicity of wheels journaled between each pair of rails, a main wheel positioned at each end of the frame, shafts for said main wheels, and brackets carrying said shafts supported between said wheel-supporting rails, one of said shafts projecting beyond the side of said frame and carrying a pinion, a platform adapted to be moved longitudinally over said wheels, said platform comprising a multiplicity vof sections joined together into a belt-like structure, means carried by each section for presenting at the upper side of the platform a substantially solid support, a register, and means operated by said pinion for indicating upon said register the distance traveled by said platform, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the class described, a

rectangular frame, said frame earring two main wheels positioned adjacent the ends thereof, two pairs of wheel-supporting rails positioned adjacent the sides of said frame and at the top thereof, a multiplicity of wheels carried by said rails, a flexible platform mounted on and revoluble about said wheels, said platform comprising a multiplicityof sections,flexible means for uniting said sections into a belt-like structure, and blocks rigidly secured to the ends of said belt sections and projecting to points midway of each adjoining section, said blocks cooperating with said belt sections to provide a substantially rigid platform at the upper side of said frame, substantially as described.

GEORGE N. BROWN. 

